Mano Ganesan charts new political approach for Democratic Peoples Front

Sep 13, 2010 5:19:13 PM- transcurrents.com

Democratic People’s Front (DPF) leader and president of Democratic Workers Congress (DWC) Mano Ganesan is formulating a new,political approach for his pary.

The former Colombo district Parliamentarian wants to maintain equidistance between the UNP and PFA and be able to criticise both parties if necessary on the one hand while having an issue-based working relationship with the DNA and TNA whenever necessary.

He is thinking of contesting future local authority elections as an Independent entity

Mano Ganesan whose party continues to remain within the UNF despite the cross over of its solitary Parliamentarian Praba Ganesan has indicated his fresh line of thought to UNP and opposition leader Ranil Wickremasinghe in a recent missive.

The full text of the letter is reproduced below:

Hon. Ranil Wickramasinghe MP
Leader of opposition and UNP

Dear Sir,

What’s happening in the UNP is pathetic. There had been other in the past. But this is the worst of all considering the internal and external conditions. However I am confident and pray that you will be able to overcome the difficulties in your party.

On the other hand, I need to inform you, the readings within my party and Tamil community in general.

Tamil community is suffering with the defeatist complex. In the north and east and south, the western province and plantations, the new development amidst the Tamil community is that they have started talking about ‘reality conditions’ and ‘positive aspects’ of the govt and president Mahinda Rajapakse.

This is certainly wrong. There is no positive realities in president Mahinda Rajapakse’s regime for the Tamils to be happy about. Not even there is anything considerable. But it is happening. It is because there is no respectable and convincing Tamil leadership element to challenge this new development from within the UNP/UNF.

The general situation now for the govt/UPFA, in the north, east, upcountry and Colombo is changing. They have Minister Devananda and now KP for the north. Chief minister Pillayan and minister Karuna Amman for the east. It is ‘some’ hold against TNA for the govt in the north and east. TNA is slowly losing ground in this post war era.

UNP should have gained from this trailing of TNA. But today it is gained by the UPFA. It is due to the weak unimpressive Tamil leadership in the UNP. On the other hand UPFA is well established in upcountry, Nuwara Eliya and Badulla with minister Thondaman’s CWC and now added with Mr. Digambaram and Mr. Sri Ranga.

That leaves western province, Colombo. Even during it’s time of highest popularity, UPFA could not win Colombo’s five electorates. Colombo is the last remaining hold of the UNP. At every elections Tamils and Muslims saved UNP alliance.

It is itching the govt. Govt tried to change Tamil vote with UPF’s Mr. Radhakrishnan and CWC’ Mr. Yogarajan then, but failed. I was there all along as an iron curtain with the UNP. But now you have changed the equation. You dropped me and opted for some non entity Tamils thinking they are Tamil vote pullers.

The govt is very tactful. It has now pulled Mr. Praba Ganesan. They are planning to use him in Colombo at all future local and general elections. I know some of the lower level cadres of my party in the slums in the Colombo north, central and borella are meeting him for the ‘development projects’ of their respective ‘wattas’. They are my supporters and organizers of the party. But this is slowly happening. He is very cunningly reaching them by not criticizing me and the party.

The Tamil business community and people of north east origin in Colombo are with me. But the business community is not comfortable with the UNP lately. It is also going through the post war era changes. Please do not imagine that anyone of your three UNP Tamil MPs is representing these Tamils.

I am shocked by the defection of Mr. Praba Ganesan. I knew he was unhappy with UNP but did not anticipate his latest action. Our trouble with UNP and supporting the govt are two separate issues. This has been my matured stand always. But he has used my name and fame and party machinery to reach parliament and finally used this issue and deceived me. So far I am able to keep my party intact with my personal charisma.

Now I will have to fight him to save my party. I have to match him. As the UNP leader you have to help me by restoring my status. Tamil people and my cadres will laugh at me if I continue with UNP anymore without UNP regretting for what it has done to me. The time has come for me to make a decision. If not I will lose my party. I cannot be with the UNP anymore unless I am nominated to the parliament. I have done enough for the UNP led alliance in the past. I am not demanding anything unfair. I am eligible.

My party is convinced that UNP leadership is not doing anything on this. You can ask anyone of those ‘national list MPs’ to resign in the interest of the party. Or even you can compensate any of them with the Colombo Mayoral candidature. You can tell Mr. Swaminathan or Mr. Eran Wickramaratne to step down and stand for CMC mayor. We will support. But you are not doing either. I cooperated with patience and goodwill since April. But nothing has happened.

Colombo’s and Nuwara Eliya’s Provincial and former municipal councilors and other local govt members of the party are with me. I will have to protect them and convince them of a sure future. I can’t do that by going with UNP when they are convinced that UNP has deceived me.

There is no UNF. UNF is a nonentity. If I keep walking with this nonentity, I will ruin my future and as that of my party.

I will not support or join the government. It is because I am a principled person. I cannot ruin all what I have done during the past ten years, especially last 5 years. I have a way out by being in-between UPFA and UNP. I can criticize both. I can work with DNA and TNA on issue based manner. This way is open for me.

We will face the local govt elections on our own in Colombo, Gampaha, Kandy and Nuwara Eliya districts. I can keep my party alive this way until next general elections. This is the respectable way out for me.